Strange anticipates friendlier Ryder Cup
( 2001-09-20 10:41 ) (7 )

US Ryder Cup captain Curtis Strange believes the strong partisanship that has been so much a part of previous competitions will give way to a friendlier contest when the US defends the cup against Europe at The Belfry in England next year.

"I think it's going to be a little different, especially when you come from the US, because I don't think you forget why you moved back a year," Strange said on Wednesday.

"Everything is in place. I can't imagine doing anything for the next eight months," he said, referring to his role as captain for the event postponed until next September after last week's air attacks on the US

"It's always going to be the 2001 (Ryder Cup). Don't forget why we are moving it to 2002."

If, as expected, the gallery is less partisan than might have been the case before the attacks, Strange no doubt will not mind. But it is not something he wants to dwell on now.

"I don't think that's the proper thing to be talking about at this particular time," he said. "We are in the middle of unbelievable circumstances here.

"We're never going to forget what happened, and nor should we, but I think we'll get excited again as the Ryder Cup gets closer."

Strange and US PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem both support the decision to delay the Ryder Cup, although Finchem has one regret.

"My head was telling me it could not work. My heart was telling me we were going to see 30,000 British people with American flags in their hands, so I was really torn," Finchem said.

Strange and Finchem were speaking on the eve of the Pennsylvania Classic at Laurel Valley Golf Club, just 20 miles from where a hijacked United Airlines plane crashed in rural Somerset county 80 miles southeast of Pittsburgh last Tuesday.

The tournament will honor the victims of the attacks with a five-minute break at noon on Thursday. Players will stop on the course and a ceremony will be held at the 18th hole.